"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle

Here We Go!_________________A sunny disposition is worth more than fortune. Young people should know that it can be cultivated; that the mind like the body can be moved from the shade into sunshine. Thine own reproach alone do fear

Last edited by NextBigThing on Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:15 am; edited 6 times in total

Special Advisors and Consultants:
-Rabbisson_________________A sunny disposition is worth more than fortune. Young people should know that it can be cultivated; that the mind like the body can be moved from the shade into sunshine. Thine own reproach alone do fear

Last edited by NextBigThing on Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:29 pm; edited 9 times in total

ST: Danny Aiken, Matt Slater_________________A sunny disposition is worth more than fortune. Young people should know that it can be cultivated; that the mind like the body can be moved from the shade into sunshine. Thine own reproach alone do fear

Last edited by NextBigThing on Mon Mar 12, 2012 4:19 pm; edited 12 times in total

TRADES
Matt Light for the 114th overall pick
Nick McDonald for 219th overall pick_________________A sunny disposition is worth more than fortune. Young people should know that it can be cultivated; that the mind like the body can be moved from the shade into sunshine. Thine own reproach alone do fear

Last edited by NextBigThing on Tue Feb 21, 2012 12:54 am; edited 2 times in total

Welcome to the 2012 edition of Footballs Future's NFL Mock Draft! We are all in charge of managing the soon to be world champion New England Patriots offseason! This is your General Manager, NextBigThing, saying welcome aboard, and prepare for dominate! Our goal is simple, and intentions clear.

P & I.

Power and influence. As the people in charge of running the greatest organization in sports today, we have a responsibility to accept nothing less than complete greatness. NBT hopes everybody is prepared and excited to join in our quest to further league domination!

Now it's time to get out hands dirty and get down to business. The posts above will be updated with all the foundational information which our off season will be based. Soon, there will be 3 private google documents created: 1) a spreadsheet of all free agents and trade targets, 2) A spreadsheet draft big board, which will be used to closely on draft day, 3) A word document. While the next several days are spent finalizing the forum staff listing, lets talk basic, foundational ideas.

NBT believes in aggressive free agency and trading, as well as strong, talent based drafts. NBT sees few but gaping holes in our current team, and would like to address these issues as best as possible BEFORE the draft, which we can spend simply adding to our riches. This means being very active in free agency (we have a lot of cap space) and the trading period. NBT believes every deal should be entertained, though only ones which will clearly make us better today AND tomorrow are trades which should be executed. That is NBT's basic philosophy. For the time being, lets chat basic questions.

-Who are some of our current players we may want to trade?

-Of our own free agents, who should we sign/let go, and how? Franchise and transition tags

-From other teams: Pending Free Agents to sign or other players we may want to trade for_________________A sunny disposition is worth more than fortune. Young people should know that it can be cultivated; that the mind like the body can be moved from the shade into sunshine. Thine own reproach alone do fear

Hey guys, Niners AGM here. Looking forward to this year's FFMD! I know it's early, but myself and adamq (GM) will be the contacts if you are looking to make a deal with the Niners. Feel free to PM us any proposals you may have. Best of luck in the Super Bowl, beat them Giants! _________________FFMD 12 - Niners Assistant General Manager
mike23md doin work on the sig!! ^^

I think we should avoid trading for players who aren't RFA and even then, I don't like trading for players already established in the league who will command a high price, as well as an expensive contract.

Last year we looked at guys like Brian Robison as a 3-4 OLB whilst everyone else fought over Haloti Ngata and Nnamdi Asomugha(though we did sign Sidney Rice)

I think we should look at players who have been shunned by other teams who would fit the Patriot model (ala Wes Welker, Brian Waters) and would be picked up cheaply in terms of trading and contract.

I think we should avoid Mario Williams if he is put up for trade. The Texans really like the draft when it comes to FFMD (they traded Williams for 2 1st Round Picks, which then turned into Von Miller at #3)_________________Adopt-a-Patriot '14: Danny Amendola Status: Allegedly Deflating Balls On The Sideline

Hoyer is interesting. There maaay be a trade market for him; I have a lot of confidence in Mallet.

RedNGoldinSoCal wrote:

Hey guys, Niners AGM here. Looking forward to this year's FFMD! I know it's early, but myself and adamq (GM) will be the contacts if you are looking to make a deal with the Niners. Feel free to PM us any proposals you may have. Best of luck in the Super Bowl, beat them Giants!

Thank you, will do for sure!

TomRalph wrote:

#dominate

I think we should avoid trading for players who aren't RFA and even then, I don't like trading for players already established in the league who will command a high price, as well as an expensive contract.

Last year we looked at guys like Brian Robison as a 3-4 OLB whilst everyone else fought over Haloti Ngata and Nnamdi Asomugha(though we did sign Sidney Rice)

I think we should look at players who have been shunned by other teams who would fit the Patriot model (ala Wes Welker, Brian Waters) and would be picked up cheaply in terms of trading and contract.

I think we should avoid Mario Williams if he is put up for trade. The Texans really like the draft when it comes to FFMD (they traded Williams for 2 1st Round Picks, which then turned into Von Miller at #3)

I hear you, we wont be on the bad end of any deals, rest assured. Williams will be worth examining, though agreed, trade value faaaar to high._________________A sunny disposition is worth more than fortune. Young people should know that it can be cultivated; that the mind like the body can be moved from the shade into sunshine. Thine own reproach alone do fear

Hoyer is interesting. There maaay be a trade market for him; I have a lot of confidence in Mallet.

RedNGoldinSoCal wrote:

Hey guys, Niners AGM here. Looking forward to this year's FFMD! I know it's early, but myself and adamq (GM) will be the contacts if you are looking to make a deal with the Niners. Feel free to PM us any proposals you may have. Best of luck in the Super Bowl, beat them Giants!

Thank you, will do for sure!

TomRalph wrote:

#dominate

I think we should avoid trading for players who aren't RFA and even then, I don't like trading for players already established in the league who will command a high price, as well as an expensive contract.

Last year we looked at guys like Brian Robison as a 3-4 OLB whilst everyone else fought over Haloti Ngata and Nnamdi Asomugha(though we did sign Sidney Rice)

I think we should look at players who have been shunned by other teams who would fit the Patriot model (ala Wes Welker, Brian Waters) and would be picked up cheaply in terms of trading and contract.

I think we should avoid Mario Williams if he is put up for trade. The Texans really like the draft when it comes to FFMD (they traded Williams for 2 1st Round Picks, which then turned into Von Miller at #3)

I hear you, we wont be on the bad end of any deals, rest assured. Williams will be worth examining, though agreed, trade value faaaar to high.

Glad to see my legacy as GM has not been forgotten

We have interest from other teams in Mario. He will be tagged then traded, but the trade council requires the new team to have a deal in place prior to trading for him. You must re-sign him, which would be good considering the impact the tag would take on your cap. Anywho, if interested PM me or Kenney

How the OL will shape up. Do we bring Dan Koppen back? He'll be 33 next year coming off an injury. Do we re-sign Connoly to play center instead or do we take a center early in the draft? Who starts at RT, Vollmer or Solder? Is the plan for Marcus Cannon to take over for Brian Waters after '12 or do we need to draft another G at some point?

It's already been mentioned, but is it time to say goodbye to Brian Hoyer? Mallett should be a respectable back-up, and being able to carry 2 QBs with maybe another on the PS could be huge by opening up a much needed roster spot for either an extra O-lineman or a 3rd TE. Getting a top 100 pick for Hoyer would give us an extra chip to maybe move up or fill another need early.

The D-Line. Do we go back to a 3-4 base, and if so, where do Andre Carter and Mark Anderson fit in with those plans? Is it too early to give up on Ron Brace and Jermaine Cunningham or do they have a role here?_________________2012 Adopt-A-Patriot: Wes Welker
WES WELKER IS OBSOLETE IN THIS OFFENSE
Stats:
Rec: 100 (3rd in NFL)
Yds: 1,172 (9th in NFL)
TDs: 4
Stickin' it in Bill's face one game at a time.

Lets do this! I think we all pretty much agree that our Top needs are: S, DL, OLB, WR, OC and CB. Fortunately I think we will be able to address most of these positions through Free Agency, depending on Franchise/Transition Tags. I think we can land Quality premier DL, WR and S help in the Free agency period and use our picks to trade up for premire talent potentially at the CB and OLB spots.

*We know Wrights situation. Barrett is coming off an Injury and didnt impress last season when he was given the starting position. Cunningham will benefit if we go back to more of a 3-4 line up but if we plan on staying in the 4-3 I think its best we move him. After missing the first 6 weeks Brace showed some of his potential and playing in a 4-3 really helped him I believe but if we are going back to a 3-4 it may be time to move on from the former 2nd round pick. Wendell is a quality back up player but if we can get value for him and draft or sign a replacement he is worth floating out there, Esp with McDonald a cheaper option. Mallett is mostly on here because I want to see what other teams value him as after spending a year in NE behind Brady. Moores value will never be higher than it is now and if hes not in our future plans might as well move him. Chad Ochocinco, I pondered this for a moment but I think he needs to be in a less complicated offense to thrive. He has had longer than anyone in the NFL sans the NE and NYG player to pick up a playbook and put it together. If he cant do it in that time I dont see the dfference an off-season will make. Brown, nuff said.

-Of our own free agents, who should we sign/let go, and how? Franchise and transition tags

Resign:
Wes Welker, Mark Anderson, Andre Carter, Dan Connolly, Dan Koppen, Matt Slater, James Ihedigbo, Brian Hoyer(RFA)
*Wes is a given to be resigned. and if were going to place the Franchise Tag on anyone I would have to think it would be him.I dont think any of our other FA are worth the tag and the amount of money it will cost. And if the "Talent Agency" decides to just sign the tender, were left paying Carter or Anderson like $9mill next season.That Im not ok with. I would love to resign Both Carter and Anderson but think the Latter will command a big pay day and the former if we are planning on using a multiple defense next year, should come back for half the cost and years. I would also like to resign both Connolly and Koppen. Once again though, I think the former will get a nice pay raise and I'm not sure how I feel about paying him starter money when I could resign Koppen for about 2 years and draft a replacement to play and learn behind him(ala Solder)Slater is a no-brainer he is a Pro-Bowl and All-Pro special teamer and is our new Izzo. I would like to resign Ihedigbo He has been a Core Special teams player for us and also has contributed as a spot starter this season. He is a strong locker room presence and BB seems to like him. Hoyer is our top back up and should be placed with a 2nd round tender. I have An Idea where I value him and will extrapolate in private.

Let Walk:
Gary Guyton, Shaun Ellis, Kevin Faulk, Nate Jones, niko Koutovides, Donald Thomas, Tracey White, Brett Lockett(ERFA), Gerard Warren
*Guyton along with his declining play will also probably price himself out of our range. Ellis, Faulk and Warren could retire after this season. White, Lockett,and Niko are STer's that can be replaced by Tarp and a vet or rook. Nate Jones and Donald Thomas are depth players that prob shouldnt be on the roster anyway.

Depends on price:
Deion Branch and BenJarvis Green Ellis
*If Branch is willing to come back at a cheap price I would gladly welcome him back. His Chemistry with Brady is great and he is still effective as a 4th or 5th option behind Wes,Hern and Gronk and any impending FA or rookie WR's added to the roster. Green-Ellis has been everything you could ask for out of a back. Durable, reliable, and does his job. If he isnt asking top dollar I think we should resign him.

Potential Trade Targets:
I went through every roster and the only names that jumped out to me were the big names. And they either came with a big contract or most likely will be untouchable. I have a feeling that a lot of the players listed above may get franchise tagged turning them into trade candidates. Other than that I'm just waiting to see if we can steal someone off of a trade block. I will go into more detail on which prospects I think we should target when we have more privacy and depending on my Position.
Thoughts?